Upon the recommendation of their Citizen Grant Advisory Committee at their April 28, 2011 meeting, the Moraine Township Board of Trustees voted to award grants totaling $166,000 to area nonprofit agencies. The Board of Trustees had earlier increased the line item amount in their budget planning sessions. Last year, the Township allocated $135,000 in grants during their fiscal year, which runs April 1-March 31.

The Grant Advisory Committee's Executive Summary submitted to the Board states that the Township received applications from 25 agencies. The Committee recommended funding support for 23 of those 25 agencies, involving 27 different programs. Five proposals were new ones, from new agencies or on behalf of a program not previously proposed for consideration. Requested funds totaled $214,100. Regrettably, some agencies funded in the past failed to apply this year by the annual proposal deadline of February 1.

"We could not be as confident of our decisions to make these important awards without the detailed study of proposals made by our community volunteers," said Supervisor Mari Barnes. "They put in many hours of dedicated effort to come up with their recommendations, and we thank them most sincerely."

"The allocation was significantly more than last year's to respond to the continuing economic crises facing local nonprofit agencies," according to Board liaison Trustee Jackie Schechter (Highwood).

Members of the Citizen Grant Advisory Committee this year were Chair Harry Crane, Judy Datz, Wendi Ezgur, Mark Gilhooley and Beth Olderman (all Highland Park) and Matt Ferrari from Highwood. A second Board liaison was Trustee Bryna Gamson (Highland Park).

Details on the grant process, the Executive Summary, and links to grantee agency websites may be found on the Township's website at http://morainetownship.org. The Township's phone number is 847-432-3240.